CVS vs. ICLR: A Head-to-Head Stock Comparison
Updated onHere’s a clear look at CVS and ICLR, comparing key factors like historical performance, profitability, financial strength, growth, dividend, and valuation.
Company Profile
| Symbol | CVS | ICLR |
|---|---|---|
| Company Name | CVS Health Corporation | ICON Public Limited Company |
| Country | United States | Ireland |
| GICS Sector | Health Care | Health Care |
| GICS Industry | Health Care Providers & Services | Life Sciences Tools & Services |
| Market Capitalization | 101.04 billion USD | 12.41 billion USD |
| Exchange | NYSE | NasdaqGS |
| Listing Date | February 21, 1973 | May 15, 1998 |
| Security Type | Common Stock | Common Stock |
Historical Performance
This chart compares the performance of CVS and ICLR by tracking the growth of an initial $10,000 investment in each. Use the tabs to select the desired time period. Data is adjusted for dividends and splits.
Historical Performance at a Glance
| Symbol | CVS | ICLR |
|---|---|---|
| 5-Day Price Return | 0.35% | 2.85% |
| 13-Week Price Return | 13.43% | -7.77% |
| 26-Week Price Return | 28.61% | 15.44% |
| 52-Week Price Return | 43.38% | -20.46% |
| Month-to-Date Return | -0.44% | -5.61% |
| Year-to-Date Return | 73.33% | -22.66% |
| 10-Day Avg. Volume | 6.62M | 0.64M |
| 3-Month Avg. Volume | 7.69M | 1.15M |
| 3-Month Volatility | 23.53% | 42.52% |
| Beta | 0.48 | 1.28 |
Profitability
Return on Equity (TTM)
CVS
0.62%
Health Care Providers & Services Industry
- Max
- 24.67%
- Q3
- 15.54%
- Median
- 8.37%
- Q1
- 5.49%
- Min
- -2.09%
CVS’s Return on Equity of 0.62% is in the lower quartile for the Health Care Providers & Services industry. This indicates a less efficient generation of profit from its equity base when compared to its competitors.
ICLR
6.32%
Life Sciences Tools & Services Industry
- Max
- 23.81%
- Q3
- 11.79%
- Median
- 7.51%
- Q1
- 3.14%
- Min
- -6.95%
ICLR’s Return on Equity of 6.32% is on par with the norm for the Life Sciences Tools & Services industry, indicating its profitability relative to shareholder equity is typical for the sector.
Net Profit Margin (TTM)
CVS
0.12%
Health Care Providers & Services Industry
- Max
- 9.33%
- Q3
- 4.80%
- Median
- 2.90%
- Q1
- 0.93%
- Min
- -3.28%
Falling into the lower quartile for the Health Care Providers & Services industry, CVS’s Net Profit Margin of 0.12% indicates weaker profitability. This means the company retains a smaller portion of each dollar in sales as profit compared to its competitors.
ICLR
7.40%
Life Sciences Tools & Services Industry
- Max
- 33.77%
- Q3
- 17.97%
- Median
- 8.97%
- Q1
- 3.80%
- Min
- -11.89%
ICLR’s Net Profit Margin of 7.40% is aligned with the median group of its peers in the Life Sciences Tools & Services industry. This indicates its ability to convert revenue into profit is typical for the sector.
Operating Profit Margin (TTM)
CVS
1.49%
Health Care Providers & Services Industry
- Max
- 18.35%
- Q3
- 8.71%
- Median
- 5.10%
- Q1
- 2.10%
- Min
- -3.07%
CVS’s Operating Profit Margin of 1.49% is in the lower quartile for the Health Care Providers & Services industry. This indicates weaker profitability from core operations, which may stem from inefficiencies or competitive pressures on pricing.
ICLR
10.03%
Life Sciences Tools & Services Industry
- Max
- 31.55%
- Q3
- 21.26%
- Median
- 14.06%
- Q1
- 8.54%
- Min
- 0.11%
ICLR’s Operating Profit Margin of 10.03% is around the midpoint for the Life Sciences Tools & Services industry, indicating that its efficiency in managing core business operations is typical for the sector.
Profitability at a Glance
| Symbol | CVS | ICLR |
|---|---|---|
| Return on Equity (TTM) | 0.62% | 6.32% |
| Return on Assets (TTM) | 0.18% | 3.59% |
| Net Profit Margin (TTM) | 0.12% | 7.40% |
| Operating Profit Margin (TTM) | 1.49% | 10.03% |
| Gross Profit Margin (TTM) | 13.88% | 28.15% |
Financial Strength
Current Ratio (MRQ)
CVS
0.83
Health Care Providers & Services Industry
- Max
- 2.00
- Q3
- 1.56
- Median
- 1.28
- Q1
- 0.92
- Min
- 0.01
CVS’s Current Ratio of 0.83 falls into the lower quartile for the Health Care Providers & Services industry. This indicates a tighter liquidity situation and a more constrained capacity to handle short-term debt than many of its competitors.
ICLR
1.06
Life Sciences Tools & Services Industry
- Max
- 4.76
- Q3
- 2.87
- Median
- 1.75
- Q1
- 1.37
- Min
- 0.57
ICLR’s Current Ratio of 1.06 falls into the lower quartile for the Life Sciences Tools & Services industry. This indicates a tighter liquidity situation and a more constrained capacity to handle short-term debt than many of its competitors.
Debt-to-Equity Ratio (MRQ)
CVS
0.90
Health Care Providers & Services Industry
- Max
- 2.41
- Q3
- 1.39
- Median
- 0.74
- Q1
- 0.46
- Min
- 0.00
CVS’s Debt-to-Equity Ratio of 0.90 is typical for the Health Care Providers & Services industry, indicating its use of leverage is in line with the sector norm. This suggests a balanced approach to its capital structure.
ICLR
0.37
Life Sciences Tools & Services Industry
- Max
- 0.95
- Q3
- 0.70
- Median
- 0.45
- Q1
- 0.18
- Min
- 0.00
ICLR’s Debt-to-Equity Ratio of 0.37 is typical for the Life Sciences Tools & Services industry, indicating its use of leverage is in line with the sector norm. This suggests a balanced approach to its capital structure.
Interest Coverage Ratio (TTM)
CVS
3.08
Health Care Providers & Services Industry
- Max
- 14.47
- Q3
- 7.46
- Median
- 4.52
- Q1
- 2.04
- Min
- -4.44
CVS’s Interest Coverage Ratio of 3.08 is positioned comfortably within the norm for the Health Care Providers & Services industry, indicating a standard and healthy capacity to cover its interest payments.
ICLR
4.80
Life Sciences Tools & Services Industry
- Max
- 45.00
- Q3
- 27.84
- Median
- 7.16
- Q1
- 2.12
- Min
- -14.08
ICLR’s Interest Coverage Ratio of 4.80 is positioned comfortably within the norm for the Life Sciences Tools & Services industry, indicating a standard and healthy capacity to cover its interest payments.
Financial Strength at a Glance
| Symbol | CVS | ICLR |
|---|---|---|
| Current Ratio (MRQ) | 0.83 | 1.06 |
| Quick Ratio (MRQ) | 0.63 | 1.02 |
| Debt-to-Equity Ratio (MRQ) | 0.90 | 0.37 |
| Interest Coverage Ratio (TTM) | 3.08 | 4.80 |
Growth
Revenue Growth
EPS Growth
Dividend
Dividend Yield (TTM)
CVS
3.43%
Health Care Providers & Services Industry
- Max
- 5.51%
- Q3
- 2.66%
- Median
- 1.06%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
With a Dividend Yield of 3.43%, CVS offers a more attractive income stream than most of its peers in the Health Care Providers & Services industry, signaling a strong commitment to shareholder returns.
ICLR
0.00%
Life Sciences Tools & Services Industry
- Max
- 1.02%
- Q3
- 0.67%
- Median
- 0.32%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
ICLR currently does not pay a dividend, resulting in a yield of 0%. This is a common strategy for growth-focused companies that prioritize reinvesting earnings, though it may be less typical in mature, income-oriented sectors.
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)
CVS
74.62%
Health Care Providers & Services Industry
- Max
- 187.56%
- Q3
- 81.14%
- Median
- 33.42%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
CVS’s Dividend Payout Ratio of 74.62% is within the typical range for the Health Care Providers & Services industry, suggesting a balanced approach between shareholder payouts and company reinvestment.
ICLR
0.00%
Life Sciences Tools & Services Industry
- Max
- 97.67%
- Q3
- 61.34%
- Median
- 18.53%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
ICLR has a Dividend Payout Ratio of 0%, indicating it does not currently pay a dividend. This is a common strategy for growth-oriented companies that reinvest all profits back into the business.
Dividend at a Glance
| Symbol | CVS | ICLR |
|---|---|---|
| Dividend Yield (TTM) | 3.43% | 0.00% |
| Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM) | 74.62% | 0.00% |
Valuation
Price-to-Earnings Ratio (TTM)
CVS
210.61
Health Care Providers & Services Industry
- Max
- 48.86
- Q3
- 32.22
- Median
- 21.78
- Q1
- 13.97
- Min
- 8.01
At 210.61, CVS’s P/E Ratio is exceptionally high, exceeding the typical maximum for the Health Care Providers & Services industry. This suggests the stock may be significantly overvalued compared to its peers and implies high market expectations that could be difficult to meet.
ICLR
20.85
Life Sciences Tools & Services Industry
- Max
- 78.22
- Q3
- 57.42
- Median
- 34.18
- Q1
- 28.39
- Min
- 1.55
In the lower quartile for the Life Sciences Tools & Services industry, ICLR’s P/E Ratio of 20.85 suggests the stock may be undervalued compared to its peers, potentially presenting an attractive entry point for investors.
Price-to-Sales Ratio (TTM)
CVS
0.25
Health Care Providers & Services Industry
- Max
- 3.66
- Q3
- 1.64
- Median
- 0.72
- Q1
- 0.27
- Min
- 0.10
In the lower quartile for the Health Care Providers & Services industry, CVS’s P/S Ratio of 0.25 indicates its revenue is valued more conservatively than most of its peers. This could present a compelling opportunity if the market has overlooked its sales-generating capabilities.
ICLR
1.54
Life Sciences Tools & Services Industry
- Max
- 10.69
- Q3
- 6.37
- Median
- 4.95
- Q1
- 3.27
- Min
- 1.04
In the lower quartile for the Life Sciences Tools & Services industry, ICLR’s P/S Ratio of 1.54 indicates its revenue is valued more conservatively than most of its peers. This could present a compelling opportunity if the market has overlooked its sales-generating capabilities.
Price-to-Book Ratio (MRQ)
CVS
1.31
Health Care Providers & Services Industry
- Max
- 7.33
- Q3
- 4.33
- Median
- 2.48
- Q1
- 1.31
- Min
- 0.65
CVS’s P/B Ratio of 1.31 is within the conventional range for the Health Care Providers & Services industry. This shows a balanced market view, where the stock’s price is neither at a significant premium nor a discount to the book value of its peers.
ICLR
1.46
Life Sciences Tools & Services Industry
- Max
- 8.12
- Q3
- 5.04
- Median
- 3.94
- Q1
- 2.12
- Min
- 1.13
ICLR’s P/B Ratio of 1.46 is in the lower quartile for the Life Sciences Tools & Services industry. From a value investing perspective, this is favorable, as it suggests the stock is trading at a discount to its net asset value and may offer a greater margin of safety.
Valuation at a Glance
| Symbol | CVS | ICLR |
|---|---|---|
| Price-to-Earnings Ratio (TTM) | 210.61 | 20.85 |
| Price-to-Sales Ratio (TTM) | 0.25 | 1.54 |
| Price-to-Book Ratio (MRQ) | 1.31 | 1.46 |
| Price-to-Free Cash Flow Ratio (TTM) | 15.70 | 12.96 |